I smirked. “Meal prepping is nice. I’ve found I really like routine.”
She pulled a grossed-out face. “I couldn’t keep on a routine even if I tried. That life isnotfor me. I want to constantly see new places, meet new people, and try new food. I’ll keep going until I…” She trailed off and shook her head.
I wanted to press her to finish the rest of her sentence, but I was distracted by the pang of sorrow in my chest. I was proud of her for creating the life she always wanted, even if it hurt that it was completely opposite of mine. I forced a smile. “I like seeing your life. Maybe you could come see mine sometime.”
“Yeah, maybe,” she said with a small smile.
There was so much I wanted to say, but I managed to swallow it all down and grab her hand instead.
When it came to Ali, I’d have to be okay with living for the maybes.
___________
The next morning, her alarm went off extremely early.
“Thought it was your day off?” I grumbled, pulling her body closer to cuddle for a few more precious moments. Her bed was so tiny that my feet fell off the end, but I couldn’t care less. I was more comfortable than I’d been in years. I loved being wrapped up in the sheets with her.
She patted my cheek. “It is, but I have some things I like to do.”
“Oh, sounds a little something like a routine?” I teased with my eyes still closed.
She let out a little laugh. “Something like that.” She was silent for a beat, making me finally open my eyes. She was biting her lip, looking stuck in indecision.
“Say it,” I demanded, holding her chin.
She cocked an eyebrow. “Say what?”
“Whatever you’re struggling to say. No judgement, let’s hear it.” I rolled onto my back, bringing her with me so she was now sprawled out on top of me.
Balancing her elbow on my chest, she held her chin. “Do you want to join?”
“Yupp.” I stretched out, getting ready to leave the bed.
She laughed. “You don’t even know what I’m asking you to join.”
“Don’t care. I’ll follow you anywhere.” I winked at her, making her cheeks pink up.
That morning, I followed her up to the deck where we joined about fifty other people in sunrise yoga. After that, we met up with a few of her skating friends for breakfast, then I followed her to the adults-only pool where I received a stern talking-to for doing a cannonball—worth it because Ali was giggling the whole time.
After doing a couple laps in the pool, I spread out on the cabana next to her. She just smiled, barely taking attention away from the page of the romance novel she was reading.
Laying on my stomach, I wrapped a wet arm around her legs, making her laugh, and it felt like I’d somehow broken into heaven. I couldn’t help but think that this was how things should’ve always been between the two of us: easy. Easy comfort, easy love.
I fell asleep just like that, thinking about the future, about everything I could show her in Chicago.
But as I slept, my dreams took me back to the past, back to when things were anything but easy…
___________
2011
The first Monday of summer break, I parked my truck at Centre Ice and rounded the back to grab my hockey bag. Colt, Kappy, and I worked it out with Hans that we’d coach the mini-mite clinic each morning, and then we’d get free ice time afterwards.
Of course I was the first to arrive because Colt and Kappy were both perpetually late, something that made my skin crawl.
As I walked across the large, cracked parking lot, the sun was shining brightly against the blue sky, and the rink looked so peaceful, but I had a weird feeling gnawing at me, making me pick up my pace.
As soon as I pushed open the glass lobby doors, my stomach dropped to the floor.
